Brake Bleeder Options?

[trav848]

I don't want to beat a dead horse here, but I need some input. I am looking for a vacuum bleeder thats pneumatic powered to bleed both automotive brakes and motorcycles. I know that many on here prefer the Motive Power Bleeder for bleeding automotive brakes and hopefully that will come later. I have seen tons of people recommend the Vacula bleeders on here but I cant seem to find them anywhere but ebay. They are running around $300 for what looks similar to the ones on amazon for closer to $100. Anyone run any of these? Whats the latest and greatest brand out there that will treat me well for years to come? Mityvac?

Link to the one I was referring to

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00ESN7VVG/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[jobo1004]

Still one of my favorite harbor freight purchases of all time.
http://m.harborfreight.com/brake-fluid-bleeder-92924.html

 

[Yesmar]

nothing beats the 2 person guy on the pedal and guy running around with a line wrench.
I have both the motive power bleeder and the hf air bleeder in my box. I still won't let a car out of the shop without finishing it "the old fashion" way

 

[theoldwizard1]

nothing beats the 2 person guy on the pedal and guy running around with a line wrench.

concur !

 

[WhiffySpark]

It'll work fine. Vacuum bleeding is all I did for 2 years. I don't ever do traditional bleeding after getting a pressure setup

 

[2ndGearRubber]

nothing beats the 2 person guy on the pedal and guy running around with a line wrench.
I have both the motive power bleeder and the hf air bleeder in my box. I still won't let a car out of the shop without finishing it "the old fashion" way

Agreed, I always bleed by hand to double check.


However, try replacing literally every brake line on a GM ABS equipped truck, and bleed it all out by hand. There's a time and place for vac-bleeders.


The ones with hand pumps basically defeat the purpose, and your hand gets tired.



Coworker has this: http://www.tooltopia.com/mityvac-mv6830.aspx


But if the guy on amazon reviews calls that Nieko bleeder "sasha" I might get that one!

 

[doan]

+1 for pressure bleeding. I made my own out of a garden sprayer.

 

[dogdog]

if you are going to spend that much..... might as well get a power bleeder instead of a vacuum bleeder.... If you search here, and most other forums.... some one made them out of that $10 HDX homedepot 1 gallon sprayer as well. I have that HF one works fine except that thing takes a lot of air... a normal home compressor will choke on it. converted to use the AC vacuum pump instead. But power bleeder is better I have heard. THe one that op post also runs on air.... might do the same on your air compressor....


http://www.ecstuning.com/Search/SiteSearch/Power_Bleeder/

 

[dogdog]

or this if you are looking for a multi purpose fluid extractor, no air needed and portable.

http://www.tooltopia.com/astro-pneumatic-7342.aspx

 

[WhiffySpark]

or this if you are looking for a multi purpose fluid extractor, no air needed and portable.

http://www.tooltopia.com/astro-pneumatic-7342.aspx

I have the Mity vac air powered one

Too lazy to pump

 

[dogdog]

I have the Mity vac air powered one

Too lazy to pump

lol problem is that it requires air, lots of air not little..... might not be ideal if you are looking for portability.

 

[454ragtop]

Don't understand the attraction of these. I'm self employed, as an auto tech, just me in the shop, and I bleed everything by myself including the above mentioned GM ABS full brake line replacements, have done a bunch of them. I gravity bleed and use a spring loaded pedal tool made by Vim, bleed everything without thinking about it. If something is air bound, a couple pumps with the bleeder open get things moving.
Jim

 

[signcrafter]

I have this one and really like it, http://www.tooltopia.com/mityvac-mv6835.aspx. It makes quick work of replacing brake fluid. Pedal feels fine afterwards. One of the best features is the auto brake fluid filler thingy. Don't have to worry about running the master dry.

 

[magic_garage]

Don't understand the attraction of these. I'm self employed, as an auto tech, just me in the shop, and I bleed everything by myself including the above mentioned GM ABS full brake line replacements, have done a bunch of them. I gravity bleed and use a spring loaded pedal tool made by Vim, bleed everything without thinking about it. If something is air bound, a couple pumps with the bleeder open get things moving.
Jim

Hi:

Brining up an old thread. I'm interested in the gravity method. So you need to keep the pedal depressed while the fluid is draining? How much to depress? And a couple of pumps will get the fluid to drain if it doesn't initially start draining?

Thanks.

 

[txvwnut]

I use a Phoenix injector and reverse bleed everything I do, but all the brake work I do is on old Volkswagens so I'm not touching anything with antilock brake systems.

 

[Astro_Pneumatic_Tools]

nothing beats the 2 person guy on the pedal and guy running around with a line wrench.
I have both the motive power bleeder and the hf air bleeder in my box. I still won't let a car out of the shop without finishing it "the old fashion" way

For when you don't have two people:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B013WEPTYC/?tag=atomicindus08-20



__________
Chris
Product Manager

 

[COSMOS]

I bought a used 2006 Chevy Extended Cab long bed with the Duramax engine with 37,000 miles in 2013. I have read on a number of Duramax sites where guys change all the fluids and forget the two most important one, the power steering (hydraboost) and brake fluid.

I had mine flushed done by a local shop, what a difference. One year later I replaced the rubber hoses and found a guy local to me from one of the diesel sites come over with his Tech-II and cycle the fluid out of the ABS controller.

The brakes are fantastic, stops on a dime for a 7000lbs truck and brake control is linear with slight pedal travel and is just short of a brand new truck. If your brakes still feel a little not right after bleeding and you have a GM with an ABS controller have it done...​

 

[Ramblin Man]

For when you don't have two people:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B013WEPTYC/?tag=atomicindus08-20



__________
Chris
Product Manager

I got that kit a couple months ago, and I am satisfied with it so far.

 

[454ragtop]

Hi:

Brining up an old thread. I'm interested in the gravity method. So you need to keep the pedal depressed while the fluid is draining? How much to depress? And a couple of pumps will get the fluid to drain if it doesn't initially start draining?

Thanks.

No, to use the gravity method, you open the bleeder without depressing the pedal. But sometimes they seem to be air bound, and nothing happens, so a couple pumps of the brake pedal will usually start things moving. Only open 1 bleeder at a time. As a final step, I'll use the pedal depressor. Install it with the bleeder closed, then open the bleeder and then close before removing or resetting the pedal depressor, same as if there were another person depressing the pedal.
HTH, Jim

 

[Phantom552]

However, try replacing literally every brake line on a GM ABS equipped truck, and bleed it all out by hand. There's a time and place for vac-bleeders.

Oh man, no lie. My truck is a '97 Z71 and let's just say anything beyond just changing brake pads can and will cause headaches without a power bleeder handy. lol

 

[anndel]

I did it myself using Speed Bleeders

http://www.speedbleeder.com/

 

[alfazer]

I used the traditional method of pumping the pedal, but for last few years I used a vacuum bleeder. Until I worked on my Honda ST1300 motorcycle. It has ABS with linked front and rear. Total of seven bleed valves and my vac bleeder won't do it, even though the manual says I should use one.
I have to use my old method of pumping from the master cylinders.

 

[PJNJ]

I did it myself using Speed Bleeders

http://www.speedbleeder.com/

Speedbleeders are great. Put them on one of the family cars last year and bleeding the brake system was a breeze.

Also made a homemade pressure bleeder out of garden sprayer using the online directions. Works very well as long as I can get a good seal on the master cylinder.

 

[dogdog]

got the power pressure bleeder over the Summer loved it.... the HF one that I have is reconfigured / Modded... with the air handle and exhaust pulled, added a vac gauge to it and a small 1/8 barb hose adapter on the other end ...... had a old ac vacuum hose I cut so I can attached to the AC vac if I needed to or use it as a large reservoir for the power bleeder.... I can do all 4 wheel in 20 mins....